Point of View Worksheet 5 featuring four passages to determine narrative perspective.

Point of View Worksheet 5 – Solutions and Explanations

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#### 1.
Passage:
Cindy got her test back and started crying immediately. It was a C. Her mother would never stand for Cs. She felt disappointed. She knew that she would be in big trouble. Then Jen got her test back. Jen cheered. She got a C. Her mother would be so proud. Jen had studied hard for the test and she was satisfied with the results. She felt proud.

Narrator's Perspective: Third-person limited

Explain how you know:
The narrator uses third-person pronouns ("she," "her") to describe both Cindy and Jen, but only reveals the thoughts and feelings of each character individually when they are the focus. For example, we learn Cindy’s disappointment and fear of trouble, and later Jen’s pride and satisfaction. The narrator does not reveal what the other character is thinking at the same time (e.g., we don’t know what Cindy thinks about Jen’s reaction). This indicates third-person limited, where the narrator focuses on one character’s inner thoughts at a time.

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#### 2.
Passage:
Kalil examined the math book. It had been badly treated. The cover was torn and it appeared to be missing some pages. Still, Kalil knew that looks were less important than utility. He had learned that lesson long ago. "Thanks, Mr. Thompson!" he said with gratitude. Mr. Thompson looked up from his desk and said, "Sorry we don't have new books, Kalil, but there's still plenty of good math left in that book." Mr. Thompson smiled. Kalil felt appreciative.

Narrator's Perspective: Third-person limited

Explain how you know:
The narrator uses third-person pronouns ("he," "him") and describes Kalil’s internal thoughts: “Kalil knew that looks were less important than utility,” and “Kalil felt appreciative.” However, the narrator does not reveal Mr. Thompson’s thoughts or feelings—only his words and actions. Since the story is focused on Kalil’s perspective and inner experience, while excluding access to others’ minds, this is third-person limited.

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#### 3.
Passage:
The sound of lawnmowers roared across the suburb. Nick rose from his bed and slowly walked to the bathroom. He brushed his teeth and threw on a pair of clothes. Then he ran upstairs. His mom was working by the oven. "Care for some eggs, Nick?" Nick smiled and said, "Yeah, that'd be great, Mom." His mom smiled at him and cracked a few more eggs into a large glass bowl. She stirred the eggs while he put his head down on the table. "Don't fall back asleep, Nick," she said. He chuckled.

Narrator's Perspective: Third-person objective

Explain how you know:
The narrator reports only observable actions and dialogue without revealing any characters' thoughts or feelings. We see what Nick and his mom do and say, but we don’t know what they are thinking. For instance, we don’t know if Nick is tired, happy, or annoyed; we just see him chuckle and put his head down. Similarly, we don’t know the mom’s emotions beyond her smile. Because the narrator remains detached and only describes external events, this is third-person objective.

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#### 4.
Passage:
Tiego and Tierra sat on the cliffs with their feet dangling from the edge. They were watching the sunset and thinking of the great battles behind them. They weren't talking, only exchanging looks, but their looks were packed with meaning. Tiego knew Tierra loved him, and Tierra knew that Tiego loved her. True mutual love like theirs is a rare and beautiful thing. They considered themselves lucky.

Narrator's Perspective: Third-person omniscient

Explain how you know:
The narrator uses third-person pronouns and has access to the inner thoughts of both characters: “Tiego knew Tierra loved him, and Tierra knew that Tiego loved her.” The narrator also makes general observations about their relationship (“True mutual love like theirs is a rare and beautiful thing”), which shows knowledge beyond just the characters’ experiences. This ability to know the thoughts and feelings of multiple characters and comment on them reflects third-person omniscient narration.

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✔ Summary Table:

| Passage | Narrator's Perspective | Reason |
|--------|-------------------------------|--------|
| 1 | Third-person limited | Focuses on individual characters’ thoughts, but not all at once |
| 2 | Third-person limited | Only reveals Kalil’s thoughts; not Mr. Thompson’s |
| 3 | Third-person objective | No thoughts or feelings revealed; only actions and dialogue |
| 4 | Third-person omniscient | Knows thoughts of both characters and makes general comments |

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